Jury can evaluate credibility of witness against councilman
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Reporter
The attorney representing City Councilman Andy Mirikitani in his trial next month will be allowed to present evidence that one of the two former employees accusing him of theft, bribery and extortion has a criminal record.
Advertiser library photo
U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor ruled that attorney John Edmunds will be able to introduce evidence that former Mirikitani employee Jonn Serikawa has two convictions — a misdemeanor for shoplifting and a drug-related felony — as well as contempt-of-court citations for traffic offenses.
A bribery trial against Andy Mirikitani will begin on June 13.
Gillmor said she believed that the information was relevant to the jury's evaluation of Serikawa's credibility.
She said the fact that Serikawa did not include the information on his city job application was significant because "appearance of impropriety is extremely important" for a political appointee.
But she also cautioned the attorneys against overemphasizing the convictions. "We don't want to put the witness on trial instead of the defendant," the judge said.
Mirikitani is accused of paying two former employees bonuses of nearly $26,600 in exchange for kickbacks of $6,884, after taxes, to him and his campaign.
Mirikitani and his girlfriend, Sharron Bynum, were indicted by a federal grand jury in November. Charges against him include wire fraud, theft, bribery and extortion. She was named "aider and abettor" in the theft, extortion and bribery.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Seabright is prosecuting. Jury selection is scheduled for Tuesday. Gillmor delayed the trial until June 13 because of scheduling conflicts.
The judge said she plans to summon 80 potential jurors to be screened for the high-profile case.
